Page 16 of When Forever Comes

“The inner radiance that only West has ever brought out of you.”

Olivia’s cheeks turn a pretty shade of pink.

I remember seeing her around school that first week and how she never appeared comfortable with her so-called friends. Even then, it’s like I knew her. She had a distinct glow about her once we started spending more time together. I never took credit for it, but maybe Dana is on to something.

Dana drops her arms to her sides. “It’s why you practically glimmered walking around every summer you spent together. You two were inseparable.”

She’s not wrong. Every waking moment, I wanted to be with Olivia. So every moment I could be with her, I was. Every football game, I was there in the stands, watching her as she cheered, proud to be best friends with the kindest and prettiest girl at school. The summers were even better. We’d spend sunrise to sunset together, and often even later than that.

For the last ten years, she’s been the center of my prayers.

“Brad only ever dimmed your light,” Dana continues, seemingly oblivious to the hurt etching its way onto Olivia’s face at the mention of her ex.

Needing something to change the subject, I ask, “Why don’t you two sit down and I’ll make us some coffee?”

The girls nod their approval.

“Do you still make it with a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg?” I direct my question to Olivia.

“How did you remember such a mundane thing?” Olivia asks.

I shrug off my suit jacket and drape it over one of the chairs at the kitchen island. After unbuttoning my cuffs, I roll up my sleeves.

“When it comes to you, there’s not a thing I’ve forgotten.”

Leaving Olivia was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. From here on out, I vow to do everything I can to make up for the last ten years. Starting with making her coffee exactly how she likes it.

“I take mine the same, not that you asked.” Dana shoots me a glare.

“I was going to ask you next,” I tell her.

“Sure you were.” Dana rolls her eyes, and it takes me back to the attitude teenage Dana gave her parents when they asked her to do the simplest of chores.

“You haven’t changed,” I say.

“Well, you have, and I haven’t decided if that’s a good thing or not,” Dana retorts.

I chuckle and make quick work of getting fresh grounds into the filter with a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg, stirring the grounds and spices together, then pour the water into the coffee maker.

As it percolates, Dana catches me up on all the goings on in my old town. Not that there is much. She never brings up the fire, and I’m grateful.

Olivia reaches for my Bible and slides it over from where I set it down and runs her finger over the spine and traces the lettering spelling outHoly Bible.

“So, when did you become a Christian?” Olivia asks, cutting her sister off from sharing more gossip.

“I came to know Jesus after I survived a shark attack.” I pour a healthy dose of creamer into Olivia’s mug and hand it to her. After I drop a sugar cube into another mug and get the cream out of the refrigerator, I pour a little into Dana’s coffee. “Is this still how you take it?” I push the mug across the marble countertop to Dana.

Both women stare at me open mouthed.

“Shark attack?” Dana asks. “Explain. Full story. Now.”

This girl truly hasn’t changed. She’s the same spitfire I remember.

“I went out surfing and the tide pulled me deeper than I’ve ever been before. After catching a powerful wave, I lost my balance and fell in. I cut my ankle on the board. Apparently, there was a shark nearby. He grabbed my ankle, and I screamed, begging God to save me. Without thinking, I used my other foot to kick it in the eye and he released me. The kick stunned it enough to back off. I have a scar from where the shark bit me to show for it, but other than some stitches, I came out unscathed.”

“You justkickedit in the eyeball? Like without passing out?” Olivia asks, then adds, “I would have totally passed out and become the shark’s unhappy meal.”

Picturing Olivia in the jaws of a great white is the last thing I want on my mind, so I pour myself a cup of coffee while I finish the story. “It was like I temporarily lost control of my body. I kicked it hard enough to stupefy it and before I knew what was happening, the perfect wave came and I rode it to shore on my knees. After a quick trip to the hospital and dodging news crews, I found a church, tracked down the pastor, and asked him how to become a Christian. Any doubts about God caring about me vanished when He answered my desperate prayer.”

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